BMO Center facts for kids
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"The Big Orange Box"
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BMO Center in March 2024
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 BMO Harris Bank Center
Location in Illinois
BMO Harris Bank Center
Location in the United States
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| Former names | Rockford MetroCentre (1981–2011) BMO Harris Bank Center (2011–2022) |
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| Address | 300 Elm Street |
| Location | Rockford, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 42°16′12.95″N 89°5′45.9″W / 42.2702639°N 89.096083°W |
| Public transit |  RMTD |
| Owner | Rockford Area Venues & Entertainment Authority |
| Operator | ASM Global |
| Capacity | 6,200 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | February 7, 1979 |
| Opened | January 31, 1981 |
| Construction cost | $15.7 million ($63.3 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Larson & Darby |
| Tenants | |
| Rockford Lightning (CBA) (1986–2006) Illinois Thunder (NPSL) (1990–1992) Rockford IceHogs (UHL) (1999–2007) Rockford Thunder/Rampage (AISL/MISL) (2005–2007, 2008–2010) Rock River Raptors (UIF/CIFL) (2006–2009) Rockford IceHogs (AHL) (2007–present) Chicago Blitz (X League) (2022–present) |
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The BMO Center is a large building in downtown Rockford, Illinois. It's a place where many different events happen. People sometimes call it the "Big Orange Box" because of how it looks from the outside.
This arena is currently the home of the Rockford IceHogs hockey team. They play in the AHL. Over the years, the BMO Center has also hosted other sports teams. These included basketball, indoor football, and indoor soccer teams.
Contents
History of the BMO Center
The BMO Center first opened its doors on January 31, 1981. The very first event was a big party with famous entertainers like Bob Hope and Lynda Carter. Later that year, the famous rock band The Rolling Stones even played a concert there!
To get tickets for The Rolling Stones concert, people had to enter a special lottery. Radio stations collected petitions, and these were used to pick who could buy tickets. Each lucky person could buy two tickets for $15.
Events and Entertainment Over the Years
Since it opened, the BMO Center has hosted many exciting events. It was the location for college basketball tournaments in 1984 and 1986. It also held high school basketball tournaments.
Besides sports, the arena is a popular spot for concerts and big meetings. Many local high schools hold their graduation ceremonies there each year.
In 1999, the Rockford IceHogs hockey team started playing at the venue. Today, the BMO Center continues to host a variety of events. You can see monster truck shows, comedy acts, and many different concerts there.
About the BMO Center Arena
The BMO Center is designed to host major events. It has special areas for the press and comfortable lounges. There are also private suites where people can watch sports games in style. The main part of the building is a large arena that can be set up for many different activities.
How the Arena Got Its Name
The arena has had a few different names over the years. When it first opened, it was called the Rockford MetroCentre.
On August 11, 2011, the arena's name changed to the BMO Harris Bank Center. This happened because BMO Harris Bank made an agreement to have their name on the building. Then, on October 20, 2022, the name was updated again to simply the BMO Center.
Upgrades and Renovations
The BMO Center has been updated several times to make it even better.
Major Renovations in 2006
In 2006, the city of Rockford and Winnebago County planned a big renovation. They decided to spend $23 million to improve the arena. A key part of this plan was an agreement with the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team. This agreement brought an American Hockey League (AHL) team to Rockford for ten years. This new team became the Blackhawks' "farm team," meaning it helps develop players for the main team. The arena's owners bought the rights to name this new team the "IceHogs."
Improvements in 2013
More changes happened during the summer of 2013. The old seats in the lower part of the building were replaced. New, modern seats were installed, which increased the seating capacity for hockey games. The number of seats went from 5,767 to 5,895.
Along with the new seats, the locker room for visiting teams was made larger. New lights were added, and the main hallway (concourse) was also updated. Before these renovations, in 2006, the arena could hold 8,700 people for basketball games.
Recent Updates in 2021
In April 2021, another $23 million renovation project was announced. This project included exciting new features for the BMO Center. It brought a redesigned main entrance and ticket office. The Jack Daniels Bar was remodeled, and a new "grab & go" store was added for visitors.
